Control of ambient light for a privacy display

ABSTRACT

A control system for a switchable privacy display apparatus comprises an ambient light sensor, a controllable light source and a display controller arranged to control the light source and the display luminance. High image visibility is provided for public mode operation while in privacy mode visual security level above a perceived privacy threshold may be obtained by means of control of image luminance and display illuminance, in response to the output of the ambient light sensor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to illumination from light modulation devices, and more specifically relates to control of privacy display.

BACKGROUND

Privacy displays provide image visibility to a primary user that is typically in an on-axis position and reduced visibility of image content to a snooper, that is typically in an off-axis position. A privacy function may be provided by micro-louvre optical films that transmit some light from a display in an on-axis direction with low luminance in off-axis positions. However such films have high losses for head-on illumination and the micro-louvres may cause Moiré artefacts due to beating with the pixels of the spatial light modulator. The pitch of the micro-louvre may need selection for panel resolution, increasing inventory and cost.

Switchable privacy displays may be provided by control of the off-axis optical output.

Control may be provided by means of luminance reduction, for example by means of switchable backlights for a liquid crystal display (LCD) spatial light modulator. Display backlights in general employ waveguides and edge emitting sources. Certain imaging directional backlights have the additional capability of directing the illumination through a display panel into viewing windows. An imaging system may be formed between multiple sources and the respective window images. One example of an imaging directional backlight is an optical valve that may employ a folded optical system and hence may also be an example of a folded imaging directional backlight. Light may propagate substantially without loss in one direction through the optical valve while counter-propagating light may be extracted by reflection off tilted facets as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,519,153, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In a known privacy display the privacy mode is provided by the addition of a removable louver film, such as marketed by 3M Corporation, which may not be fitted or removed by users reliably and therefore in practice, is not assiduously attached by the user every time they are outside the office. In another known privacy display the control of privacy mode is electronically activated but control is vested in the user who must execute a keystroke to enter privacy mode.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a privacy display apparatus comprising: a display device arranged to display an image, the display device being capable of providing a privacy function in which the visibility of the image to an off-axis viewer is reduced compared to the visibility of the image to an on-axis viewer; at least one privacy light source arranged to provide illumination from an illuminated region that is arranged to illuminate the display device along an incident direction for reflection to a predetermined viewer position at a polar angle of greater than 0° to the normal to the display device; and a control system arranged to control the display device, wherein the control system is arranged to control the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source when the privacy function is provided.

Thus, when the privacy function is provided, illumination is provided from the illuminated region onto the display device along the incident direction and reflected in the direction of an off-axis viewer in the predetermined viewer position. As a result, the illuminated region provides suppression of the visibility of the displayed image to the off-axis viewer by providing an external illuminance. In general terms, the suppression occurs because the external illuminance reduces the contrast of the displayed image, and thereby improves the visual security level. By comparison, the illumination from the illuminated region is not reflected towards an on-axis viewer who therefore perceives no degradation of the visibility of the image.

The privacy display apparatus may be applied in a range situations. By way of non-limitive example, the privacy display apparatus may be applied in an automotive vehicle. In this case, conveniently, the illuminated region may be part of the door of the automotive vehicle.

The display apparatus may further comprise an ambient light sensor arranged to detect the illuminance level of ambient light.

The control system may derive a measure of the illuminance of light on the display along the incident direction using the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the ambient light sensor and selectively control the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source on the basis of the derived measure.

In a case where the ambient light sensor is a directional sensor arranged to detect the illuminance level of ambient light incident on the display device along the incident direction, the measure of the illuminance Iθ of light on the display along the incident direction is the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the ambient light sensor.

In a case where the ambient light sensor is arranged to detect the illuminance level of ambient light from a range of directions, the control system may derive a measure of the illuminance of light on the display along the incident direction using both the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the ambient light sensor and the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source.

Advantageously, the control system is arranged to control the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source to maintain a relationship Iθ≥Iθ_(min) where Iθ is the derived measure of the illuminance of light on the display along the incident direction and Iθ_(min) is given by the equation

${I\;\theta_{\min}} = \frac{\left( {10^{S_{\min}} - 1} \right) \cdot \pi \cdot {Ymax}}{\left( {{\rho(\theta)}/{P(\theta)}} \right)}$

where Y_(max) is the maximum output luminance of the display device, the units of Y_(max) being the units of Iθ_(min) divided by solid angle in units of steradian, ρ(θ) is the reflectivity of the display device for light along the incident direction, P(θ) is the ratio of the luminance of the display device along the incident direction to the maximum output luminance of the display device, and S_(min) has a value of 1.0 or more.

By controlling the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source on the basis of the derived measure of the illuminance of light on the display along the incident direction in a manner that maintains the relationship Iθ≥Iθ_(min) when the privacy function is provided, the perceptual security level of operation of the display device may be maintained at or above the limit in the predetermined viewer position at a polar angle of greater than 0° to the normal to the display device, even as the illuminance level of ambient light and the luminance of the display device are varied. By so maintaining the perceptual security level at or above the limit S_(min), an off-axis viewer cannot perceive the displayed image.

Advantageously, S_(min) may have a value of 1.5 or more. Such an increased limit of S_(min) achieves a higher level of visual security in which the image in invisible to an off-axis viewer, i.e. the off-axis viewer cannot even perceive that an image is being displayed, for most images and most observers.

Advantageously, S_(min) may have a value of 1.8 or more. Such an increased limit of S_(min) achieves a higher level of visual security in which the image is invisible independent of image content for all observers.

The at least one privacy light source may be located in various locations to provide illumination from the illuminated region, for example as follows.

One possibility is that the illuminated region is a surface and the at least one privacy light source is arranged to illuminate the illuminated region. In this case the illumination from the illuminated region is provided by reflection from the surface.

Another possibility, is that the at least one privacy light source is arranged in the illuminated region so as to provide said illumination as light output thereby.

With either of these possibilities, advantageously the privacy light source is not visible by the on-axis viewer.

The display device may be capable of operating in at least a public mode and a privacy mode, wherein in the privacy mode the privacy function is provided and the visibility of the image to an off-axis viewer is reduced compared to the public mode, the control system being capable of selectively operating the display device in the public mode or the privacy mode for at least one region of the display device. This provides for selective operation in the public mode or the privacy mode depending on the usage of the display device. By way of example, the privacy mode can be used in public places such as cafes or trains in order to enable the primary user to keep working but preventing onlookers or snoopers from being able to see or photograph data from the screen and the public mode can be used when discussing the contents on the screen with colleagues, for example within the corporate office.

The control system may be arranged to selectively operate the display device in the public mode or the privacy mode in response to the detected level of the ambient light.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling a display device that is arranged to display an image and is capable of providing a privacy function in which the visibility of the image to an off-axis viewer is reduced compared to the visibility of the image to an on-axis viewer; the method comprising providing at least one privacy light source arranged to provide illumination from an illuminated region that is arranged to illuminate the display device along an incident direction for reflection to a predetermined viewer position at a polar angle of greater than 0° to the normal to the display device; and controlling the luminous flux of at least one privacy light source when the privacy function is provided.

The second aspect of the present invention corresponds to a method of operation of the display apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure and provides similar advantages.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of optical systems. The embodiments may include or work with a variety of projectors, projection systems, optical components, displays, microdisplays, computer systems, processors, self-contained projector systems, visual and/or audio-visual systems and electrical and/or optical devices. Aspects of the present disclosure may be used with practically any apparatus related to optical and electrical devices, optical systems, presentation systems or any apparatus that may contain any type of optical system. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure may be employed in optical systems, devices used in visual and/or optical presentations, visual peripherals and so on and in a number of computing environments.

Before proceeding to the disclosed embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application or creation to the details of the particular arrangements shown, because the disclosure is capable of other embodiments. Moreover, aspects of the disclosure may be set forth in different combinations and arrangements to define embodiments unique in their own right. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

These and other advantages and features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying FIGURES, in which like reference numbers indicate similar parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a front view of a privacy display comprising a privacy control system operating in privacy mode with a first visual security level;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a look-down perspective of a privacy display comprising a privacy control system operating in privacy mode with a first visual security level;

FIG. 3 is a schematic graph illustrating variation of output luminance with viewing angle for a typical collimated backlight arranged to cooperate with a switchable retarder to provide high visual security level to a wide range of snooper locations;

FIG. 4 is a schematic graph illustrating variation of visual security level with off-axis relative luminance of a switchable privacy display operating in privacy mode;

FIG. 5 is a schematic graph illustrating variation of reflectivity with polar viewing angle for two types of privacy display;

FIG. 6 is a schematic graph illustrating variation of visual security level with polar viewing angle for the two types of privacy display of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7A is a schematic graph illustrating transfer functions between head-on display luminance and ambient illuminance;

FIG. 7B is a schematic graph illustrating transfer functions between the ratio of measured ambient illuminance to head-on display luminance and ambient illuminance;

FIG. 8A is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of security factor with polar angle for an illustrative privacy display operating in privacy mode for a lux/nit ratio of 3.0;

FIG. 8B is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of security factor with polar angle for an illustrative privacy display operating in public mode for a lux/nit ratio of 0.5;

FIG. 8C is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of security factor with polar angle for an illustrative privacy display operating in public mode for a lux/nit ratio of 0.5;

FIG. 8D is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of security factor with polar angle for an illustrative privacy display operating in privacy mode for a lux/nit ratio of 3.0;

FIG. 9A is a schematic graph illustrating user selectable transfer functions between head-on display luminance and ambient illuminance;

FIG. 9B is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for operating user selectable transfer functions;

FIG. 9C is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of perceived privacy with visual security level;

FIG. 9D illustrates a flowchart of the privacy control system of FIGS. 1-2 and FIGS. 3-4;

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram illustrating a look-down view of an automotive vehicle operated in a dark environment and a control system comprising in-vehicle illumination arranged to provide desirable visual security;

FIG. 10B illustrates a flowchart of the privacy control system of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10C is a schematic diagram illustrating a look-down view of a desktop privacy display and light sources arranged to increase image security for off-axis snoopers in response to ambient lighting conditions;

FIG. 10D is a schematic diagram illustrating a front view of a privacy display and light sources;

FIG. 10E is a schematic diagram illustrating a top view of the privacy display of FIG. 10D;

FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram illustrating a top view of a privacy display and off-axis ambient light sensor;

FIG. 11B is a schematic graph illustrating polar regions for measurement of ambient illuminance for a privacy display;

FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C are schematic diagrams illustrating top views of off-axis ambient light sensors for measurement of the ambient illuminance in the polar regions of FIG. 11B;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating in front perspective view a switchable directional display device comprising a directional backlight and a switchable liquid crystal retarder;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating in perspective side view an arrangement of a switchable liquid crystal retarder comprising a passive negative C-plate compensation retarder in a privacy mode of operation;

FIG. 15A is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance of a collimated backlight and spatial light modulator;

FIG. 15B is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of transmission of a switchable retarder arranged between parallel polarisers;

FIG. 15C is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of relative reflection of a switchable retarder arranged between a reflective polariser and absorbing polariser;

FIG. 15D is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of total display reflectivity for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation;

FIG. 15E is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation;

FIG. 15F is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of visual security level, S for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation for a display head-on luminance, of value Y_(max) measured in nits that is half of the illuminance of value I measured in lux;

FIG. 15G is a schematic graph illustrating the polar variation of visual security level, S for zero elevation for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation for a display head-on luminance, of value Y_(max) measured in nits that is half of the illuminance of value I measured in lux;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating in perspective side view an arrangement of a switchable retarder in a public mode of operation wherein the switchable retarder comprises a switchable liquid crystal layer with homeotropic alignment and a passive C-plate compensation retarder;

FIG. 17A is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a public mode of operation;

FIG. 17B is a schematic graph illustrating the polar variation of visual security level, S for zero elevation for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a public mode of operation for a display head-on luminance, of value Y_(max) measured in nits that is half of the illuminance of value I measured in lux;

FIG. 17C is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance for a backlight with a direction of maximum luminance Y_(max) that is not normal to the display;

FIG. 18A is a schematic diagram illustrating in side view propagation of output light from a spatial light modulator through the optical stack of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation;

FIG. 18B is a schematic diagram illustrating in top view propagation of ambient illumination light through the optical stack of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation;

FIG. 19A is a schematic diagram illustrating in side view propagation of output light from a spatial light modulator through the optical stack of FIG. 13 in a public mode of operation;

FIG. 19B is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of output luminance with polar direction for the transmitted light rays in FIG. 19A;

FIG. 19C is a schematic diagram illustrating in top view propagation of ambient illumination light through the optical stack of FIG. 13 in a public mode of operation;

FIG. 19D is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of reflectivity with polar direction for the reflected light rays in FIG. 19C;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating in front perspective view a switchable directional display device comprising a directional backlight and two switchable liquid crystal retarders each arranged between a pair of polarisers;

FIG. 21A is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance of an emissive spatial light modulator;

FIG. 21B is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of transmission of a first switchable retarder arranged between a first pair of parallel polarisers;

FIG. 21C is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of relative reflection of the first switchable retarder arranged between a reflective polariser and absorbing polariser;

FIG. 21D is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of total display reflectivity for the arrangement of FIG. 20 in a privacy mode of operation;

FIG. 21E is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of transmission of a second switchable retarder arranged between a second pair of parallel polarisers;

FIG. 21F is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance for the arrangement of FIG. 20 in a privacy mode of operation;

FIG. 21G is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of visual security level, S for the arrangement of FIG. 20 in a privacy mode of operation for a display head-on luminance, of value Y_(max) measured in nits that is half of the illuminance of value I measured in lux; and

FIG. 21H is a schematic graph illustrating the polar variation of visual security level, S for zero elevation for the arrangement of FIG. 20 in a privacy mode of operation for a display head-on luminance, of value Y_(max) measured in nits that is half of the illuminance of value I measured in lux.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Terms related to privacy display appearance will now be described.

A private mode of operation of a display is one in which an observer sees a low contrast sensitivity such that an image is not clearly visible. Contrast sensitivity is a measure of the ability to discriminate between luminances of different levels in a static image. Inverse contrast sensitivity may be used as a measure of visual security, in that a high visual security level (VSL) corresponds to low image visibility.

For a privacy display providing an image to an observer, visual security may be given as: V=(Y+R)/(Y−K)  eqn. 1

where V is the visual security level (VSL), Y is the luminance of the white state of the display at a snooper viewing angle, K is the luminance of the black state of the display at the snooper viewing angle and R is the luminance of reflected light from the display.

Panel contrast ratio is given as: C=Y/K  eqn. 2

so the visual security level may be further given as: V=(P·Y _(max) +I·ρ/π)/(P·(Y _(max) −Y _(max) /C))  eqn. 3

where: Y_(max) is the maximum luminance of the display; P is the off-axis relative luminance, typically defined as the ratio of luminance at the snooper angle to the maximum luminance Y_(max); C is the image contrast ratio; p is the surface reflectivity; and I is the illuminance. The units of Y_(max) are the units of I divided by solid angle in units of steradian.

The luminance of a display varies with angle and so the maximum luminance of the display Y_(max) occurs at a particular angle that depends on the configuration of the display.

In many displays, the maximum luminance Y_(max) occurs head-on, i.e. normal to the display device. Any display device disclosed herein may be arranged to have a maximum luminance Y_(max) that occurs head-on, in which case references to the maximum luminance of the display device Y_(max) may be replaced by references to the luminance normal to the display device.

Alternatively, any display described herein may be arranged to have a maximum luminance Y_(max) that occurs at a polar angle to the normal to the display device that is greater than 0°. By way of example, the maximum luminance Y_(max) may occur at a non-zero polar angle and at an azimuth angle that has for example zero lateral angle so that the maximum luminance is for an on-axis user that is looking down on to the display device. The polar angle may for example be 10 degrees and the azimuthal angle may be the northerly direction (90° anti-clockwise from easterly direction). The viewer may therefore desirably see a high luminance at typical non-normal viewing angles.

The off-axis relative luminance, P is sometimes referred to as the privacy level. However, such privacy level P describes relative luminance of a display at a given polar angle compared to head-on luminance, and is not a measure of privacy appearance.

The illuminance, I is the luminous flux per unit area that is incident on the display and reflected from the display towards the observer location. For Lambertian illuminance, and for displays with a Lambertian front diffuser illuminance I is invariant with polar and azimuthal angles. For arrangements with a display with non-Lambertian front diffusion arranged in an environment with directional (non-Lambertian) ambient light, illuminance I varies with polar and azimuthal angle of observation.

Thus in a perfectly dark environment, a high contrast display has VSL of approximately 1.0. As ambient illuminance increases, the perceived image contrast degrades, VSL increases and a private image is perceived.

For typical liquid crystal displays the panel contrast C is above 100:1 for almost all viewing angles, allowing the visual security level to be approximated to: V=1+I·ρ/(π·P·Y _(max))  eqn. 4

In the present embodiments, in addition to the exemplary definition of eqn. 4, other measurements of visual security level, V may be provided, for example to include the effect on image visibility to a snooper of snooper location, image contrast, image colour and white point and subtended image feature size. Thus the visual security level may be a measure of the degree of privacy of the display but may not be restricted to the parameter V.

The perceptual image security may be determined from the logarithmic response of the eye, such that S=log₁₀(V)  eqn. 5

Desirable limits for S were determined in the following manner. In a first step a privacy display device was provided. Measurements of the variation of privacy level, P(θ) of the display device with polar viewing angle and variation of reflectivity ρ(θ) of the display device with polar viewing angle were made using photopic measurement equipment. A light source such as a substantially uniform luminance light box was arranged to provide illumination from an illuminated region that was arranged to illuminate the privacy display device along an incident direction for reflection to a viewer positions at a polar angle of greater than 0° to the normal to the display device. The variation I(θ) of illuminance of a substantially Lambertian emitting lightbox with polar viewing angle was determined by measuring the variation of recorded reflective luminance with polar viewing angle taking into account the variation of reflectivity ρ(θ). The measurements of P(θ), r(θ) and I(θ) were used to determine the variation of Security Factor S(θ) with polar viewing angle along the zero elevation axis.

In a second step a series of high contrast images were provided on the privacy display including (i) small text images with maximum font height 3 mm, (ii) large text images with maximum font height 30 mm and (iii) moving images.

In a third step each observer (with eyesight correction for viewing at 1000 mm where appropriate) viewed each of the images from a distance of 1000 m, and adjusted their polar angle of viewing at zero elevation until image invisibility was achieved for one eye from a position near on the display at or close to the centre-line of the display. The polar location of the observer's eye was recorded. From the relationship S(θ), the security factor at said polar location was determined. The measurement was repeated for the different images, for various display luminance Y_(max), different lightbox illuminance I(q=0), for different background lighting conditions and for different observers.

From the above measurements S<1.0 provides low or no visual security, 1.0≤S<1.5 provides visual security that is dependent on the contrast, spatial frequency and temporal frequency of image content, 1.5≤S<1.8 provides acceptable image invisibility (that is no image contrast is observable) for most images and most observers and S≥1.8 provides full image invisibility, independent of image content for all observers.

In comparison to privacy displays, desirably wide angle displays are easily observed in standard ambient illuminance conditions. One measure of image visibility is given by the contrast sensitivity such as the Michelson contrast which is given by: M=(I _(max) −I _(min))/(I _(max) +I _(min))  eqn. 6 and so: M=((Y+R)−(K+R))/((Y+R)+(K+R))=(Y−K)/(Y+K+2·R)  eqn. 7

Thus the visual security level (VSL), V is equivalent (but not identical to) 1/M. In the present discussion, for a given off-axis relative luminance, P the wide angle image visibility, W is approximated as W=1/V=1/(1+I·ρ/(π·P·L))  eqn. 8

It would be desirable to provide control of a switchable privacy display.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a front view of a privacy display apparatus 200 comprising a privacy display device 100 that is controlled by a privacy control system 500 operating in privacy mode with a first visual security level. The display device 100 displays an image.

The display apparatus 200 comprises privacy mode capable display device 100 and a control system 500. The display device 100 is arranged to display an image and capable of operating in at least a public mode and a privacy mode, wherein in the privacy mode the privacy function is provided and the visibility of the image to an off-axis viewer is reduced compared to the public mode and the visibility of the image to the primary user in an on-axis position remains visible in both the privacy and public modes. The control system 500 selectively operates the display device 100 in the public mode or the privacy mode for at least one region of the displayed image, typically the entire displayed image.

Examples of suitable types of display device are described further below.

Means to determine privacy mode operation will now be described.

For a head-on user in typical ambient illuminance environments, desirably the display device 100 provides a displayed image 101 that has a luminance to achieve high image visibility, W in both privacy and public modes of operation.

The display apparatus 200 may also comprise inputs related to desirable circumstances to provide privacy images, or conversely by undesirable circumstances to provide public images. Such desirable and undesirable circumstances may be determined by policy 240 that is provided for example by a corporate policy, government policy, medical ethical policy or by user preference settings.

The display apparatus 200 has a primary ambient light sensor 232 that detects the illuminance level of ambient light. The control system 500 may be arranged to selectively operate the display device 100 in the public mode or the privacy mode in response to the detected level of the ambient light. The primary ambient light sensor 232 may be of any suitable type such as a photodiode which may have a photopic filter or a photopic light response current or voltage or digital value.

Some types of display have multiple optical effects to improve privacy performance, with exemplary optical effects described below. If more than one privacy optical effect is available, the mode that gives the widest viewing freedom for the primary user while still maintaining adequate visual security level at the ambient light level experienced can be selected by the control system 500. Advantageously privacy is protected, and user productivity is maintained.

Airplane mode 270 may be selected, indicating that low light level ambient environments may be present and visual security level control adapted accordingly.

Advantageously in public mode the display device 100 may have greater image uniformity and viewing freedom for the primary user as well as being visible from multiple viewing locations.

Visual security level indicator 280 may be provided on the display which is a measure of the privacy level achieved. In the illustrative example of FIG. 1, the indicator 282 may be an amber privacy warning that indicates there may be some residual image visibility to an off-axis snooper. When switched in to privacy mode the control system 500 may be arranged to control the display device 100 to display image 101 with information such as indicator 280 representing the visibility of the image to an off-axis viewer, for example to provide visual security level, V. Advantageously the user or their supervisor may be confident in the privacy level being achieved in the specific environment in which they are operating.

The display appearance in privacy mode as seen by a snooper will now be described together with further inputs for the control of visual security level.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a look-down perspective of a privacy display comprising a privacy control system 500 operating in privacy mode with a first visual security level. Features of the embodiment of FIG. 2 not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

As will be described below, off-axis privacy may be provided by control of off-axis luminance, reflectivity and image contrast of the image 103 provided by a switchable privacy display device 100 to an undesirable snooper.

In one example, the display apparatus may comprise an emissive spatial light modulator. In this case, the privacy control system 500 may control luminance of the displayed image by controlling of emission of light by the spatial light modulator.

In another example, the display device may comprise a backlight and a transmissive spatial light modulator arranged to receive light from the backlight. In this case, the control system may be arranged to control luminance of the displayed image by comprises controlling the luminance of the backlight and/or by controlling transmission of light by the spatial light modulator.

In operation in privacy mode, a limited output cone angle 402C that is typically centred on the optical axis 199 that is a typically a surface normal 199 to the display apparatus 100 is provided. Off-axis luminance is reduced. In other embodiments (not shown) the cone 402C may be tilted with respect to the surface normal 199, such as for use in off-axis displays such as centre console mounted displays.

Ambient light sources 604 illuminate the display surface with light rays 605. Reflected ambient light rays 610A provide a reflected region 606 from the display 100 that provides light rays 606 that contribute to increased visual security level, V as described elsewhere herein.

Some light rays 608 may be incident on the primary ambient light sensor 232. The primary ambient light sensor 232 may be a separate element or may be incorporated in the camera 230 detection system.

Ambient illuminance detection 234 provides a calculation of ambient illuminance and is input into the control system 500. VSL calculation 250 is used to determine desirable display setting characteristics and output to display control 710. The display control 710 may control display luminance setting 278 and may be further used to provide visual security level indicator 280 level 282. Display control 710 is further described below in relation to an example of a privacy display.

FIG. 2 further illustrates privacy light source 600 that is arranged to provide light rays 601 that are reflected as light rays 603 after reflection from the privacy display 100. In the present embodiments the privacy light source 600 is controlled by the display control 710 to adjust the luminance of reflected light rays 603, 606 in correspondence to the display luminance in the cone 402C as will be described further herein.

In public display mode, a larger solid angle output light cone 402D as illustrated in FIG. 11 may be provided from the switchable privacy display device 100 may be adjusted to be larger than in privacy mode, such that off-axis display luminance is increased. Further the illuminance from the privacy light source 600 may be reduced or removed to advantageously achieve increased image visibility.

Switching between exemplary privacy and public luminance profiles will now be described.

FIG. 3 is a schematic graph illustrating variation of output luminance with viewing angle for a typical collimated backlight arranged to cooperate with plural retarders 300 to provide high visual security level to a wide range of snooper locations. Features of the embodiment of FIG. 3 not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

FIG. 3 illustrates a desirable luminance profile 486 of a backlight 20 operated in privacy mode for use with the switchable liquid crystal retarder 300 of FIG. 11 in privacy mode. The profile 486 is modified by switchable liquid crystal retarder 300 to provide an illustrative profile 490 that advantageously achieves an off-axis relative luminance of less than 0.5% at 45 degrees lateral angle and zero degrees elevation, that may be the target snooper viewing polar locations 27L, 27R illustrated in FIG. 12C for example.

Control of visual security level will now be further described.

FIG. 4 is a schematic graph illustrating variation of visual security level with off-axis relative luminance of a switchable privacy display operating in privacy mode and with reference to the privacy display of FIG. 13, as an exemplary embodiment of a switchable privacy display 100. Features of the embodiment of FIG. 4 not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

FIG. 4 illustrates the profiles for of visual security level, V (calculated in each illustrative embodiment from eqn. 4, above) and with the illustrative embodiments as illustrated in TABLE 1 for varying privacy levels achieved at the target snooper viewing locations 26L, 26R. Display reflectivity of 30% or more may be achieved for displays comprising reflective polariser 302, while display reflectivity of approximately 5% may be achieved for displays not comprising reflective polariser 302.

TABLE 1 Visual Security Display Ambient Head-on Level, V Perceptual reflectivity, ρ illuminance, luminance, @ 45° lateral Image Profile (%) I (lux) Y_(max) (nits) angle, 458 Security, S — 30 500 200 48.7 1.69 — 30 500 300 32.8 1.52 450 30 300 300 20.1 1.30 452 30 150 300 10.5 1.02 — 5 500 100 16.9 1.23 — 5 500 200 9.0 0.95 454 5 300 300 4.2 0.62 456 5 150 300 2.6 0.41

At 0.5% privacy level, various visual security level points 458 may be provided depending on display structure, ambient illuminance and display luminance. The present embodiments further provide indicator 280 for display of visual security level that may be provided for example by means of traffic light indicators.

The variation of display reflectivity with viewing angle will now be described.

FIG. 5 is a schematic graph illustrating variation of reflectivity with polar viewing angle (that may be the lateral angle for zero elevation) for two types of privacy display. Profile 820 illustrates the variation of reflectivity for an illustrative embodiment of FIG. 13 and profile 822 illustrates the variation of reflectivity for an embodiment without the reflective polariser 302 of FIG. 13. Both profiles include Fresnel reflectivity at the outer polariser 318 and thus increase at high polar angles.

The variation of visual security level, V with viewing angle will now be described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic graph illustrating variation of visual security level with polar viewing angle for the two types of privacy display of FIG. 5. VSL profile 824 illustrates an output for a display of the type of FIG. 11 with reflective polariser 302, and VSL profile 826 illustrates an output for the display of FIG. 11 with the reflective polariser 302 omitted. VSL profiles are illustrated for the same ambient illuminance, I. The limit V_(lim) above which no image visibility is present is described further below. The angular range 825 of snooper locations for the profile 824 is thus greater than the angular range 827 for the profile 826. The reflective polariser 302 achieves above threshold visual security level over a wider polar range, advantageously achieving increased protection from snoopers. Further, head-on luminance may be increased for a given ambient illuminance, increasing image visibility for the display user.

Selective control of the relationship between desirable display luminance and ambient light illuminance will now be described.

The control system 500 controls luminance of the displayed image on the basis of the detected level of the ambient light in accordance with a transfer function. The transfer function may be selected to optimise the visibility of the displayed image to an on-axis viewer. Similar techniques for optimisation of the visibility of a displayed image on the basis of the detected level of ambient light are commonly used for display devices for portable devices such as a mobile telephone and may be applied here. However, the transfer function may be adapted for use with the privacy display device 100 when a privacy function is provided, as follows.

Typically, the transfer function provides higher luminance of the displayed image in the public mode than in the privacy mode. Some illustrative examples will now be described.

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating transfer function profiles 802, 804, 852, 854 between display head-on luminance measured in nits and detected ambient illuminance measured in lux; and FIG. 7B is a schematic graph illustrating transfer function profiles 803, 805, 853, 857 between the ratio of measured ambient illuminance to head-on display luminance measured in lux per nit and ambient illuminance measured in lux.

Variations 802, 803 are illustrative profiles for public mode of operation and variations 804, 805 are illustrative profiles for privacy mode of operation.

The control system 500 is arranged to selectively control luminance of the displayed image in the public mode and the privacy mode in response to the detected level of the ambient light, in accordance with different transfer functions 802, 804 relating levels of luminance to detected levels of the ambient light in the public mode and in the privacy mode respectively. The transfer function 802 in the public mode relates higher levels of luminance to detected levels of the ambient light than the transfer function 804 in the privacy mode.

Considering profile 856 of FIG. 7A and corresponding profile 857 of FIG. 7B, a linear variation of display luminance Y0 is provided compared to measured ambient illuminance with a constant ratio of 0.5 lux/nit for all illuminance levels. In operation, such a display has high luminance compared to background illuminance over all illuminance ranges.

Profiles 802, 803 differ from profiles 856, 857 by increasing the lux/nit ratio with increasing luminance. Advantageously such profiles achieve visually comfortable images with high image visibility and low perceived glare over a wide illuminance range.

In a switchable privacy display such as that described hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 13, such profiles 856, 857 and 802, 803 may be desirable for a public mode of operation. The profiles 856, 857, 802, 803 advantageously achieve high image visibility, (W≥0.8 desirably) and low image security factor, (S≤0.1 desirably) for on-axis and off-axis viewing locations over a wide polar region as will be described further hereinbelow.

Considering profile 854 of FIG. 7A and corresponding profile 855 of FIG. 7B, a linear variation of display luminance Y0 is provided compared to measured ambient illuminance with a constant ratio of 3.0 lux/nit for all illuminance levels. In operation, such a display has reduced luminance compared to background illuminance over all illuminance ranges in comparison to a display with the profiles 802, 803.

Profiles 804, 805 differ from profiles 854, 855 by increasing the lux/nit ratio with increasing luminance for luminance levels below 150 nits.

In a switchable privacy display such as that described hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 13, such profiles may be desirable for a privacy mode of operation. The profiles 856, 857, 802, 803 advantageously achieve high image visibility, (W≥0.8 desirably) and low image security factor, (S≤0.1 desirably) for on-axis and off-axis viewing locations over a wide polar region as will be described further hereinbelow. Advantageously such profiles 854, 855 and 804, 805 may achieve desirable luminance and image visibility to the display user at lower illuminance levels. Further such profiles 856, 857, 802, 803 achieve increased image security at higher illuminance levels.

When operating in the privacy mode the privacy transfer function 804 is selected and the control system uses the measured ambient light level to control the display luminance so that a desirable visual security level, V at at least one off-axis snooper observation angle is provided for different ambient illumination levels. Advantageously display security may be maintained in different lighting conditions.

When operating in the public mode the public transfer function 802 may be selected to provide a desirable image visibility, W for different ambient illumination levels. Advantageously display visibility may be maintained in different lighting conditions for off-axis observers.

As will be described further hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 10A, the illuminance levels may be varied by means of control of ambient light sources, the display luminance may be varied or the display luminance and ambient illuminance may be varied to achieve desirable image visibility to the primary user 45 and desirable visual security to the snooper 47 in a privacy mode of operation.

The variation of security factor with display control and ambient illuminance level will now be further described.

FIG. 8A is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of security factor with polar angle for an illustrative privacy display operating in privacy mode for a lux/nit ratio of 3.0; FIG. 8B is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of security factor with polar angle for an illustrative privacy display operating in privacy mode for a lux/nit ratio of 0.5; FIG. 8C is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of security factor with polar angle for an illustrative privacy display operating in public mode for a lux/nit ratio of 0.5; and FIG. 8D is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of security factor with polar angle for an illustrative privacy display operating in public mode for a lux/nit ratio of 3.0.

The profiles of FIGS. 8A-D are provided by the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 13 hereinbelow, for different ratios of illuminance to head-on luminance Y0 as will now be described. The primary display user 45 is located in the polar region near to lateral angle 0°, elevation angle 0°. Snoopers are typically located in polar locations with lateral angles >25° and more typically in polar locations with lateral angles >35°.

In FIG. 8A, the display 100 is arranged to provide low off-axis luminance (such as illustrated in the lateral direction by profile 490 of FIG. 3), and high off-axis reflectivity (such as illustrated in the lateral direction by profile 820 of FIG. 5). The display head-on luminance Y0 is controlled by control of the light sources 15 of the backlight 20 such that the luminance Y0 measured in nits is ⅓ of the illuminance (that is assumed to be the same for all polar angles) measured in lux. Around the on-axis directions, S≤0.1 and an image is seen with high image visibility, W≥0.8. Advantageously the arrangement 8A is a desirable polar profile of security factor, S for privacy operation.

By way of comparison with FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B illustrates the variation of security factor, S with polar viewing angle for luminance Y0 measured in nits that is twice the illuminance measured in lux (that is the arrangement suitable for public mode viewing). Undesirably the polar region within which the security factor, S≥1.5 is substantially reduced. Off-axis display users may see more image data than for the arrangement of FIG. 8A.

In FIG. 8C, the display 100 is arranged by control of polar control retarders 300 to provide increased off-axis luminance (such as illustrated in the lateral direction by profile 486 of FIG. 3), and reduced off-axis reflectivity (such as illustrated in the lateral direction by profile 822 of FIG. 5). The display head-on luminance Y0 in nits is controlled to be three times the illuminance measured in lux. Around the on-axis directions, S≤0.1 and an image is seen with high image visibility, W≥0.8. The arrangement 8A is a desirable polar profile of security factor, S for privacy operation. Advantageously the polar region for S≤0.1 is significantly increased such that off-axis observers can see an image on the display 100 with high image visibility.

By way of comparison with FIG. 8C, FIG. 8D illustrates the variation of security factor, S with polar viewing angle for luminance Y0 measured in nits that is ⅓ of the illuminance measured in lux (that is the arrangement suitable for privacy viewing). Undesirably the polar region within which the security factor, S>1.5 is substantially reduced. Off-axis display users may undesirably see less image data than for the arrangement of FIG. 8C.

Advantageously the control system of the present embodiments achieves desirable performance in both privacy and public modes of operation for different illuminance levels.

It may be desirable for users to select the transfer function to achieve desirable level of luminance.

FIG. 9A is a schematic graph illustrating user selectable transfer functions between head-on display luminance and ambient illuminance. In comparison to the arrangement of FIG. 7A, selectable profiles 830, 832, 834, 836, 838, 840, 842, 844, 846, 848 may be provided, each of which is shaped as a step function of luminance of the displayed image with increasing detected levels of the ambient light.

Advantageously, the profile control of FIG. 9A may be provided at low cost and complexity due to the step function shape of the transfer function. The control system 500 could similarly provide a single one of the profiles to achieve the same benefit.

An illustrative example of operation will now be described. The display may be operated in a bright environment such as 450 lux. In such an environment the display may default to its maximum peak luminance of 250 nits provided to the head-on user. The user may further reduce the display luminance if desirable. Advantageously high visual security may be provided for a wide range of ambient illuminance. The profiles may be selected with a step function as illustrated to reduce the number of settings and reduce driving cost by selecting a different profile. Alternatively smooth profiles that vary continuously with ambient illuminance may be provided.

In a default setting 838, when the ambient illuminance falls, for example between 250 lux and 175 lux, the display switches between 150 nits to 100 nits. Visual security level for snoopers is maintained above a threshold. A time constant may be applied to the switching of the profile so that the variation is not visible as a display flicker. The time constant may be several seconds for example.

At high illuminance levels a single display maximum luminance Y_(max) may be provided for all the profiles as illustrated, or the step functions may continue to vary with luminance.

In some environments, the user may prefer a brighter head-on image, with some limited reduction of visual security and so may select profile 832 in place of the default setting. In other environments for which high visual security level is desirable, profile 848 may be selected with a lower head-on luminance and increased visual security level.

In other words, the user may change the default display brightness setting from the profile illustrated by the default profile 838 in the figure. If the ambient illuminance changes, the display may follow the brightness step profile selected e.g. profile 830 as shown.

During periods in which the ambient illuminance is varying or the user selection of profile is changed, switching between the profiles may be provided over an extended time period such as several seconds to achieve seamless variation of display appearance.

FIG. 9B is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for operating user selectable transfer functions.

The display apparatus, for example a notebook computer, may have a system level PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) generator 860. The input to the system level PWM generator 860 may include a setting for Global Brightness 868 set by the operating system and which may use as an input the output of a separate ambient light sensor (not shown).

The input to the Global Brightness 868 settings may also include user input which may bias or adjust the default display brightness. The PWM input 878 is received by the timing controller (TCON) board 862 which may include a microcontroller to perform processing functions. The TCON board 862 also includes input from a privacy enable 876 signal which determines if the display is in privacy mode or not. If the display is not in privacy mode the PWM output 880 may follow the PWM input 878. The TCON board 862 further includes an input from an ambient light sensor ambient light sensor 872 which may be different from the ambient light sensor provided by the system. In particular the ambient light sensor 872 may be provided with direct connection to the TCON 862 as illustrated. This connection may be independent of the operating system control. The PWM output 880 sent to the LED controller 864 is able to be modified by the TCON 862. A time response function 874 takes input from the ambient light sensor 872 and enables the TCON 862 to provide PWM output 880 so that changes in ambient illuminance result in a change in signal to the LED controller 864 that varies gradually over time so that the user does not experience flicker or jumps in display brightness. The time response function 874 may also suppress the effects of frequency components of ambient illumination (e.g. 50 or 60 Hz) that may result from fluorescent tubes or the like.

The LED controller 864 is connected to the LED bar 15 of the privacy display 100, which may be a PCB or a flexible PCB incorporated within the backlight 20 of the privacy display 100 as illustrated in FIG. 11, below for example. In other arrangements (not shown) the LED controller 864 may be provided by a display controller arranged to control the luminance of an emissive spatial light modulator 48 such as an emissive OLED display or emissive micro-LED display.

Advantageously the profile control of FIG. 9A may be provided at low cost and complexity.

Desirable limits for head-on luminance of the display operating in privacy mode will now be described.

FIG. 9C is a schematic graph illustrating the variation 806 of perceived visual security with visual security level, V at an observation angle θ. Visual security level V is a measured quantity of any given display and varies with polar viewing angle.

By comparison with visual security level V, perceived visual security is a subjective judgement of the visibility of a displayed privacy image arising from the human visual system response at the observation angle.

In operation it has been discovered that above a threshold limit V_(lim) of visual security level V then no image information is perceived. This transition in the perceived visibility with changes in the visual security level V is very rapid, as shown by the steepness of the graph in FIG. 7B around the threshold limit V_(lim). That is, as the visual security level V increases, initially the perceived visibility degrades only gradually and the image is essentially viewable. However, on reaching the threshold limit V_(lim), the perceived image rapidly ceases to be visible in a manner that is in practice surprising to watch.

In observation of the surprising result, for a text document image that is of concern for privacy applications it was found that the perceived image seen by a snooper rapidly ceased to be visible for V of 10. In the region 810 for values of V above 10, all the displayed text had zero visibility. In other words the perceived text rapidly ceases to be visible in a manner that is in practice surprising to watch for V of 10 or greater.

In regions 812 below V_(lim) text was visible with low contrast and in region 814 below V′ text was clearly visible.

It would be desirable to maximise head-on display luminance to achieve high image visibility to the primary display user. It would be further desirable to achieve high image security level for a snooper at the observation angle. The selective control of the head-on luminance will now be described in further detail.

For an observation angle θ, the maximum display output luminance Y_(max) (typically the head-on luminance) is prevented from exceeding a luminance limit Y_(lim) at which the visual security level V is above the threshold limit V_(lim) so that the image is not perceived as visible at that observation angle θ, the luminance limit Y_(lim) being given by:

$\begin{matrix} {Y_{\lim} = \frac{{R\;\theta} + {V_{\lim}*K\;\theta}}{\left( {V_{\lim} - 1} \right)*P\;\theta}} & {{eqn}.\mspace{11mu} 9} \end{matrix}$ where Rθ is the reflected ambient illuminance at the observation angle θ, Kθ is the display black state luminance at the observation angle, and Pθ is the relative luminance at the observation angle θ compared to the maximum display output luminance Y_(max) (typically the head-on luminance and is measured in nits). For display reflectivity ρθ and a Lambertian illuminant with illuminance Iθ measured in lux that is reflected by the display at the observation angle, the luminance limit Y_(lim) is also given by:

$\begin{matrix} {Y_{\lim} = \frac{\frac{{\rho\theta}*I\;\theta}{\pi} + {V_{\lim}*K\;\theta}}{\left( {V_{\lim} - 1} \right)*P\;\theta}} & {{eqn}.\mspace{11mu} 10} \end{matrix}$

Since the illuminance Iθ is dependent on the amount of ambient light, the luminance of the display device may be controlled by the control system 500 in accordance with these relationships. Specifically, the privacy transfer function 804 used by the control system 500 as described above may be selected to maintain the relationship Y_(max)≤Y_(lim) in order that the image is not perceived as visible at a desired observation angle θ, for example at an observation angle θ of 45 degrees laterally and zero degrees in elevation from the normal to the display device.

Subject to that limit, the luminance is preferably as high as possible in order to optimise the performance for the head-on view. Accordingly, the privacy transfer function 804 used by the control system 500 as described above may additionally be selected to maintain the relationship Y_(max)/Iθ≥1 lux/nit as illustrated by the profile 805 in FIG. 7B. The illuminance Iθ may be the sensed ambient illuminance that is averaged from the illuminated scene.

Advantageously a display may be provided that has high image security to off-axis snoopers while achieving high image visibility for the head-on user for different illuminance levels.

Further description of the control of a privacy display will now be described.

FIG. 9D illustrates a flowchart of the privacy control system of FIGS. 1-2 and FIGS. 3-4.

The display operating environment 261 may include (but is not limited to) network ID 201, Date/Time 262, GPS 206 data, primary ambient light sensor 232 detection and Airplane mode 270 setting.

Corporate privacy policy 240 may include definitions under which the display should be operated in privacy mode including time and location; documents and applications; and visual security level specifications.

Other inputs may include display design parameters 272 and information on viewed documents and applications 274.

Data processor 290 is used to analyse display operating environment 261, display design parameters 272, viewed documents and applications 274 and compare against corporate privacy policy 240. The output determines whether to operate the display in privacy or public mode such that switch 292 is set for privacy or public mode operation based on data processor 290 output.

In the case of privacy mode operation the settings to apply to the display device 100 using display control system 710 and images 101 using image control system 296 in order to achieve desirable visual security level are provided. Further indication of visual security level using indicator 280 may be provided.

In the case of public mode operation, the appropriate illumination control including cone angle change by display control system 710 and luminance using LED driver 715 are provided to the display device 100.

The controller 500 may continue to monitor the status of the display operating environment 261 and appropriate changes in policy 240 and adjust display device 100 and images 101 appropriately to maintain the target visual security level.

Advantageously the control system 500 may enable the visual security level, that may be the visual security level to be reliably calculated and compared to a corporate policy 240 level set for the device's current environment. The visual security level may be adjusted to the level required for the display device 100 environment so that the primary user retains optimal viewing freedom and comfort consistent with achieving the prescribed corporate privacy policy privacy level.

Features of the embodiment of FIG. 9D not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

It may be desirable to provide enhanced visual security at low ambient illuminance levels, for example in an automotive vehicle at night.

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram illustrating a look-down view of an automotive cabin operated in a low external light (dark) environment and a control system comprising in-vehicle illumination arranged to provide desirable visual security.

Vehicle 650 comprises a privacy display device 100 that is part of a privacy display apparatus 200 as described herein. In this example, the privacy display device 100 is located in front of the passenger 45 who is not the driver (the vehicle being left-hand drive in this example), and the driver being the snooper 47 in a privacy mode of operation. Thus, the passenger 45 is the on-axis viewer. The driver 47 is therefore an off-axis viewer. The privacy mode is selected when it is desired that displayed image is not visible to the driver 47, typically including times when the vehicle is being driven so that the driver 47 is not distracted by the displayed image.

The display apparatus 200 also includes a dashboard privacy light source 600 and/or a door privacy light source 602 each of which provide illumination from an illuminated region 652, as follows. In this example, illuminated region 652 is a surface of panel of a door of the vehicle.

The dashboard privacy light source 600 is mounted in the dashboard of the vehicle, so is remote from the illuminated region 652, but is arranged to illuminate the illuminated region 652. The illumination from the dashboard privacy light source 600 is reflected as light rays 610 and so illumination is provided from the illuminated region 652 by reflection. The dashboard privacy light source 600 may comprise one or more light emitting elements, and may be directional so as to direct light predominantly towards the illuminated region 652. The dashboard privacy light source 600 is controllable to vary its luminous flux.

The door privacy light source 602 is mounted in the illuminated region 652, i.e. the panel that is part of a door of the vehicle itself. Thus, illumination is provided from the illuminated region 652 by the light output directly by the second privacy light source 602. The door privacy light source 602 may be a diffuse source. The door privacy light source 602 may comprise one or more light emitting elements. The door privacy light source 602 is controllable to vary its luminous flux.

The display apparatus 200 may include either one or both of the dashboard privacy light source 600 and the door privacy light source 602, as convenient within the configuration of the vehicle. Whichever is provided, the dashboard privacy light source 600 and the door privacy light source 602 are located so that they are not visible by the on-axis viewer 47.

The illumination region 652 is located so that it provides illumination of the display device 100 along the incident direction for reflection to the predetermined viewer position of the driver 47 who is the off-axis viewer in this example. The predetermined driver 47 position may be at an angle of 45 degrees to the normal to the display 100. Alternatively, it may be desirable to provide a high security factor for a driver leaning towards the passenger 45 side with the intention to observe the display, such as an angle of less than 30 degrees, or less than 25 degrees.

Thus, the incident direction and the reflection from the display device 100 are both at a polar angle of greater than 0° to the normal to the display device. In this example, the direction is set by the configuration of the vehicle, but in other examples the incident direction and reflection may be designed with reference to the location of an off-axis viewer who is desired not to view the displayed image. For example, the polar angle may be 45°.

When the privacy function of the display device 100 is provided in the privacy mode, the control system 500 controls the luminous flux of the dashboard privacy light source 600 and the door privacy light source 602 so that illumination is provided from the illuminated region 652 onto the display device 100 along the incident direction. The light is reflected in the direction of the driver 47. As a result, the illuminated region 652 provides suppression of the visibility of the displayed image from the display device 100 by providing an external illuminance. In general terms, the suppression occurs because the external illuminance reduces the contrast of the displayed image. This effect may similarly be recognised in the fact that the visual security level V shown in eqn. 4 is increased by increasing the illuminance I. By comparison, illumination from the illuminated region 652 is not reflected towards the passenger 45 who therefore perceives no degradation of the visibility of the image.

As described above, the display apparatus includes a primary ambient light sensor 232 and control system 500 uses the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the primary ambient light sensor 232 to control the luminance of the displayed image. Thus, in operation, the primary ambient light sensor 232 is used to determine a desirable image luminance for the passenger 45. The primary ambient light sensor 232 is of a type that detects the illuminance level of ambient light incident on the display device in a non-directional manner. Thus, the primary ambient light sensor 232 measures general cabin illuminance by ambient illumination 604 for example.

Optionally, the display apparatus 200 also includes a directional ambient light sensor 231 of a type that detects the illuminance level of ambient light incident on the display device 100 along the incident direction for reflection to the predetermined viewer position of the driver 47 at a polar angle of greater than 0° to the normal to the display device 100. Thus the directional ambient light sensor 231 detects the illuminance level of light on the display device 100 from the illuminated region 652 of the interior of the vehicle. By way of example, the directional ambient light sensor 231 may be provided to collect light from illuminated region 652 only, over cone angle θa, by providing a capture lens 233 in the directional ambient light sensor 231. By means of calibration, the illuminance of the display device 100 resulting from the illuminated region 652 may be determined from the output of the directional ambient light sensor 231.

At low light levels, natural ambient lighting may fall and the luminance of reflected light seen by the driver 47 may be inadequate to achieve desirable visual security level. As described elsewhere herein, the luminance of the display device 100 may be reduced to achieve reduction in image visibility to the driver 47. However image luminance may be reduced to a level that is undesirable for the passenger 45. Thus, the control system 500 may use either the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the primary ambient light sensor 232, or the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the directional ambient light sensor 231, if provided, in order to selectively control the luminous flux of the dashboard privacy light source 600 and the door privacy light source 602, for example as follows. In each case, a measure of the illuminance Iθ of light on the display device 100 along the incident direction is determined using the detected illuminance level of ambient light. Then, the luminous flux of the dashboard privacy light source 600 and the door privacy light source 602 is controlled on the basis of the derived measure.

In the case of using the directional ambient light sensor 231, as this provides measurement of illuminance level of ambient light incident on the display device 100 along the incident direction from the illumination region 652, the measure of the illuminance Iθ of light on the display device 100 along the incident direction derived by the control system 500 is the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the directional ambient light sensor 231, due to its directional nature.

In the case of using the primary ambient light sensor 232, as this detects the illuminance of light on the display device 100 in a non-directional manner but there is increased illuminance along the incident direction from the illuminated region 652, the output of the primary ambient light sensor 232 does not directly provide a reliable measure of the illuminance Iθ of light on the display device 100 along the incident direction. However, the increased illuminance along the incident direction from the illuminated region 652 is dependent on the luminous flux that is output by the dashboard privacy light source 600 and the door privacy light source 602. Accordingly, the control system derives the measure of the illuminance Iθ of light on the display device along the incident direction using both the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the primary ambient light sensor 232 and the luminous flux of the dashboard privacy light source 600 and the door privacy light source 602.

The dependence of the measure of the illuminance Iθ along the incident direction on the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the primary ambient light sensor 232 and the luminous flux of the dashboard privacy light source 600 and the door privacy light source 602 may be derived for a given display apparatus 200 in a given situation by taking calibration measurements of the directional illuminance along the incidence direction and the output of the primary ambient light sensor 232 while varying the amount of ambient light and the luminous flux of the dashboard privacy light source 600 and the door privacy light source 602.

The visual security level for the driver 47 is then determined from the measure of the illuminance Iθ of light on the display device 100 along the incident direction.

When the measure of the illuminance Iθ of light on the display device 100 along the incident direction falls below a threshold, the control system 500 is arranged to provide at least one of (i) reduction of display 100 luminance by means of control of display backlight and/or spatial light modulator transmission or emission and (ii) increase of illuminance of the display 100 from the illumination region 652 by means of control of the dashboard privacy light source 600 and the door privacy light source 602.

In operation, as the naturally occurring ambient illuminance falls, for example at night time, the ambient light sensor 231 detects a reduced luminance from the illuminated region 652.

The display luminance to the passenger 45 is adjusted to provide a comfortable image as the light level adjusts. However, such a comfortable image may provide undesirable perceptual image visibility to the driver 47. To achieve desirable visual security level, the luminous flux of the dashboard privacy light source 600 and the door privacy light source 602 is controlled to provide an illuminance Iθ of light on the display device 100 along the incident direction to provide perceptual image security level S to the driver 47 that is 1.0 or more, preferably 1.5 or more and most preferably 1.8 or more. Specifically, this may be achieved by the control system 500 maintaining a relationship Iθ≥Iθ_(min) where Iθ is the derived measure of the illuminance of light on the display device along the incident direction and Iθ_(min) is given by the equation:

$\begin{matrix} {{I\;\theta_{\min}} = \frac{\left( {10^{S_{\min}} - 1} \right) \cdot \pi \cdot Y_{\max}}{\left( {{\rho(\theta)}/{P(\theta)}} \right)}} & {{eqn}.\mspace{11mu} 11} \end{matrix}$

where Y_(max) is the maximum output luminance of the display device 100, the units of Y_(max) being the units of Iθ_(min) divided by solid angle in units of steradian, ρ(θ) is the reflectivity of the display device for light along the incident direction, P(θ) is the ratio of the luminance of the display device along the incident direction to the maximum output luminance of the display device 100, and S_(min) has the desired value. Eqn. 11 is derived from eqn. 4, considering both the reflectivity ρ and the ratio (relative luminance) P with respect to the driver 47.

Where S_(min) has a value of 1.0 or more, the driver 47 cannot perceive the displayed image.

Where S_(min) has a value of 1.5 or more, the driver 47 cannot even perceive that an image is being displayed, for most images and most observers.

Where S_(min) has a value of 1.8 or more, the image is invisible to the driver 47 independent of image content for all observers.

Advantageously, therefore, an image with desirable luminance may be provided to the passenger 45 and desirable perceptual image security may be provided to the driver 47.

Further, the position of the driver 47 may be monitored by means of head detection sensor 644. The portion 654 of the illuminated region 652 that provides illumination to the driver may be calculated from the head position of the driver 47 and only that portion 654 may be illuminated, for example by means of light source 602 in the portion 654. Advantageously the size of the illuminated region 652 that is illuminated may be reduced and the total background light provided within the vehicle reduced.

FIG. 10B illustrates a flowchart of the method of controlling the privacy light sources 600, 602 that is implemented by the privacy control system 500 of FIG. 10A.

In step S1, the illuminance level of ambient light is detected by the primary the ambient light sensor 232 and optionally also the directional ambient light sensor 231, if provided.

In step S2, the luminance level of the display device 100 is set using the illuminance level of ambient light is detected by the primary the ambient light sensor 232. This step is performed as described above to optimise the displayed image for the passenger 45.

In step S3, the measure Iθ of the illuminance of light on the display device along the incident direction is derived. This is performed as described above, for example being the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the directional ambient light sensor 231, if provided, or being derived from both the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the primary ambient light sensor 232 and the luminous flux of the privacy light sources 600, 602.

In step S4, which is optional, the location of driver 47 is measured by sensor 644 and a portion 654 of the illuminated region 652 that provides illumination to the driver 47 is determined. If step S4 is performed, then step S5 described below is carried out in respect of the incident direction from that portion 654 of the illuminated region 652. Otherwise, the driver 47 is taken to be at a predetermined position known from the configuration of the vehicle, so step S5 described below is performed in respect of the incident direction corresponding to that position.

In step S5, the visual security level V in respect of the driver 47 and the corresponding incident direction is calculated using eqn. 4. This calculation uses the maximum output luminance Y_(max) of the display device 100 and the measure θ of the illuminance of light on the display device 100 along the incident direction derived in step S3 as the illuminance I, because the driver 47 is being considered. This calculation also uses the reflectivity ρ(θ) of the display device 100 for light along the incident direction, and the luminance roll-off P(θ) of the display device 100 along the incident direction for reflection towards the driver 47, that is the ratio of the luminance of the display device along the incident direction to the maximum output luminance of the display device 100. The perceptual security level S is then derived from the visual security level V in accordance with eqn. 5.

In step S6, it is determined whether the privacy light sources 600, 602 are currently on. In the case of a positive determination in step S6, the lights remain on so the method proceeds to step S9. In the case of a negative determination in step S6 then the method proceeds to step S7.

In step S7 it is determined whether to turn on the privacy light sources 600, 602, based on a comparison of the perceptual security level S derived in step S5 with minimum level S_(min). If the perceptual security level S derived in step S5 is above the minimum level S_(min) then the method proceeds to step S8 in which the privacy light sources 600, 602 are turned on so as to increase the visual security, and thereafter the method proceeds to step S9. Otherwise, the method reverts to step S1, so the privacy light sources 600, 602 remain off.

As described above, the minimum level S_(min) of the perceptual image security level S for the driver 47 may be selected to have a value of 1.0 or more in order to achieve the effect that the driver 47 cannot perceive the displayed image, a value of 1.5 or more in order to achieve the effect that the driver 47 cannot even perceive that an image is being displayed, for most images and most observers, or a value of 1.8 or more in order to achieve the effect that the image is invisible to the driver 47 independent of image content for all observers.

In step S9, the luminous flux of the privacy light sources 600, 602 is adjusted based on the perceptual security level S derived in step S5. If the privacy light sources 600, 602 are currently off, then they are turned on. If the privacy light sources 600, 602 are currently turned on then their luminous flux is adjusted based on the difference between the perceptual security level S and the minimum level S_(min). If the perceptual image security S is less than the minimum level S_(min), then the luminous flux of the privacy light sources 600, 602 is increased. Conversely, if the perceptual image security S is more than the minimum security level S_(min), then the luminous flux of the privacy light sources 600, 602 is decreased.

This control may be implemented by a feedback loop using the measure of the illuminance Iθ along the incident direction as a feedback parameter. In particular, the control system 500 may adjust the luminous flux of the privacy light sources 600, 602 so as to a relationship Iθ≥Iθ_(min) where Iθ is given by eqn. 11 above. In this manner, the perceptual security level S may be maintained at or above the minimum level S_(min).

Advantageously passenger 45 may see a comfortable image and driver 47 may see an image with low or no distraction in a wide range of ambient lighting conditions.

While the example of FIG. 10A is a display apparatus 200 in a vehicle 650, similar techniques may be applied to a display apparatus 200 to be used in any environment where it is desired to limit the visibility of an image to an off-axis viewer. By way of example, there will now be described an example where the display apparatus 200 is arranged to increase image security for snoopers in an office environment.

FIG. 10C is a schematic diagram illustrating a look-down view of a privacy display apparatus 200 intended for desktop use and including privacy light sources light sources 660 arranged to increase image security for off-axis snoopers in response to ambient lighting conditions. Features of the embodiment of FIG. 10C not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

The privacy display apparatus 200 is provided in laptop computer 98 which is shown situated on the surface of a desk 670 for a seated user 47 who is the on-axis viewer. The off-axis viewer is a standing snooper 47 who sees a reflection from at least part of the display device 100. The display apparatus 200 includes privacy light sources 660 that are arranged in (or near) to the laptop computer 98 to illuminate an illuminated region 662 of the desk 670. This corresponds to the illuminated region 652 in the example of FIG. 10A and is seen reflected in the display device 100 by the snooper 47. The display apparatus 200 includes a primary ambient light sensor 232 and a directional light sensor 231 and operates in the same manner, and to provide the same effect, as in the example of FIG. 10A described above.

FIG. 10D is a schematic diagram illustrating a front view of a privacy display 100 and light sources 660; and FIG. 10E is a schematic diagram illustrating a top view of the privacy display 100 of FIG. 10D. Features of the embodiment of FIGS. 10D-E not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

In comparison to the embodiment of FIG. 10C, the alternative of FIGS. 10D-E illustrate that the light sources 660 may be arranged to illuminate the front surface of the display 100 to provide reflected light 668 to the snooper 47 that may be controlled as described elsewhere herein. Advantageously the security factor of the display 100 may be increased in environments where other sources of ambient light are limited or absent.

There will now be described some possible arrangements for the directional ambient light sensor 231 that measure ambient illuminance in directions that correspond to locations in which ambient light reflectivity contributes to visual security for an off-axis viewer.

FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram illustrating a top view of a privacy display and off-axis ambient light sensor. Ambient light source 604 is reflected to snooper 47 by privacy display 100. Ambient light sensor 231 is arranged to measure ambient illuminance in light cone 605R. In operation, the output of the ambient light sensor 231 is arranged to adjust the luminance to the user 47 to achieve a desirable visual security level for the ambient illuminance. In operation, the snooper only sees reflected ambient light from regions around the direction of light cone 605R for typical displays with no or limited diffuser (for example with front surface diffusers with a diffusion of AG50 or less).

FIG. 11B is a schematic graph illustrating polar regions for measurement of ambient illuminance for a privacy display. FIG. 11B thus indicates the polar locations 605R, 605L within which ambient light sources may be arranged to contribute to the visual security level as observed by off-axis snoopers. Ambient light sources that are located elsewhere do not contribute to visual security factor. It is undesirable to provide reduction of head-on luminance to compensate for ambient illuminance that is not providing increased visual security level, that is light sources outside the regions 605L, 605R.

Ambient light sensors that preferentially measure illuminance in the polar regions 605L, 605R will now be described.

FIGS. 12A-C are schematic diagrams illustrating top views of off-axis ambient light sensors for measurement of the ambient illuminance in the polar regions of FIG. 11B.

FIG. 12A illustrates ambient light sensor 231 that comprises a mask 237 with apertures 241R, 241L that are separated by spacer 239 from the mask 237. Sensor 235L measures ambient illuminance from off-axis ambient light source 604L while sensor 235R measures ambient illuminance from off-axis ambient light source 604R. Advantageously in privacy mode of operation, the visual security level provided to the snooper may be increased in response to appropriately placed ambient light sources 604R, 605L.

FIG. 12B is similar to FIG. 12A other than the two sensors 235L, 235R are replace by a single sensor 235C. Advantageously cost is reduced.

FIG. 12C illustrates an embodiment wherein the sensors 235L, 235R and masks 237L, 237R are tilted with respect to the normal direction to the display device 100, with optical axes 299L, 299R that are directed towards the centres of the regions 605L, 605R. Advantageously in comparison to the arrangement of FIG. 12A stray light may be reduced and accuracy of measurement improved.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 12A-C the apertures 241 and sensors 231 may be shaped to achieve matching measurement directions to the polar locations 605L, 605R of FIG. 11B.

Illustrative examples of displays that are capable of switching between privacy mode and a public mode will now be described.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a front perspective view a switchable directional display device 100 comprising a backlight 20, switchable liquid crystal retarder 300 and a spatial light modulator 48.

Display device 100 comprises a directional backlight 20 such as a collimated backlight arranged to output light, the backlight 20 comprising a directional waveguide 1; and plural light sources 15 arranged to input input light into the waveguide 1, the waveguide 1, a rear reflector and light control films 5 being arranged to direct light from light sources 15 into solid angular extent 402A. Light control films 5 may comprise turning films and diffusers for example.

In the present disclosure a solid angular extent is the solid angle of a light cone within which the luminance is greater than a given relative luminance to the peak luminance. For example the luminance roll-off may be to a 50% relative luminance so that the solid angular extent has an angular width in a given direction (such as the lateral direction) that is the same as the full-width half maximum (FWHM).

The backlight 20 may be arranged to provide an angular light solid angular extent 402A that has reduced luminance for off-axis viewing positions in comparison to head-on luminance.

Display control system 710 is arranged to provide control of light source driver 715. Luminance of LEDs 15 may be controlled by control system, such that absolute off-axis luminance to a snooper may be controlled.

The spatial light modulator 48 may comprise a liquid crystal display comprising substrates 212, 216, and liquid crystal layer 214 having red, green and blue pixels 220, 222, 224. The spatial light modulator 48 has an input display polariser 210 and an output display polariser 218 on opposite sides thereof. The output display polariser 218 is arranged to provide high extinction ratio for light from the pixels 220, 222, 224 of the spatial light modulator 48. Typical polarisers 210, 218 may be absorbing polarisers such as dichroic polarisers.

Optionally a reflective polariser 208 may be provided between the dichroic input display polariser 210 and backlight 210 to provide recirculated light and increase display efficiency. Advantageously efficiency may be increased.

The optical stack to provide control off-axis luminance will now be described.

Reflective polariser 302, plural retarders 300 and additional polariser 318 are arranged to receive output light from the spatial light modulator 48.

The plural retarders 300 are arranged between the reflective polariser 302 and an additional polariser 318. The polarisers 210, 218, 318 may be absorbing type polarisers such as iodine polarisers while the reflective polariser 302 may be a stretched birefringent film stack such as APF from 3M Corporation or a wire grid polariser.

Plural retarders 300 comprise a switchable liquid crystal retarder 301 comprising a layer 314 of liquid crystal material, and substrates 312, 316 arranged between the reflective polariser 302 and the additional polariser 318. Retarder 300 further comprises a passive retarder 330 as will be described further below.

As described below, plural retarders 300 do not affect the luminance of light passing through the reflective polariser 302, the retarders 300 and the additional polariser 318 along an axis along a normal to the plane of the retarders 300 but the retarders 300 do reduce the luminance of light passing therethrough along an axis inclined to a normal to the plane of the retarders 300, at least in one of the switchable states of the switchable retarder 301. This arises from the presence or absence of a phase shift introduced by the retarders 300 to light along axes that are angled differently with respect to the liquid crystal material of the retarders 300.

Transparent substrates 312, 316 of the switchable liquid crystal retarder 301 comprise electrodes arranged to provide a voltage across a layer 314 of liquid crystal material 414 therebetween. Control system 752 is arranged to control the voltage applied by voltage driver 350 across the electrodes of the switchable liquid crystal retarder 301.

Features of the embodiment of FIG. 13 not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

As will be described further below, the additional polariser 318, plural retarders 300 and reflective polariser 302 may be arranged to provide polar control of output luminance and frontal reflectivity from ambient illumination 604.

An example of an optical stack to provide control of off-axis luminance will now be described.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating in perspective side view an arrangement of the plural retarders 300 in a privacy mode of operation comprising a negative C-plate passive retarder 330 and homeotropically aligned switchable liquid crystal retarder 301 in a privacy mode of operation. In FIG. 14, some layers of the optical stack are omitted for clarity. For example the switchable liquid crystal retarder 301 is shown omitting the substrates 312, 316.

The switchable liquid crystal retarder 301 comprises two surface alignment layers disposed on electrodes 413, 415 and adjacent to the layer of liquid crystal material 414 and on opposite sides thereof and each arranged to provide homeotropic alignment in the adjacent liquid crystal material 414. The layer of liquid crystal material 414 of the switchable liquid crystal retarder 301 comprises a liquid crystal material with a negative dielectric anisotropy. The liquid crystal molecules 414 may be provided with a pretilt, for example 88 degrees from the horizontal to remove degeneracy in switching.

The electric vector transmission direction of the reflective polariser 302 is parallel to the electric vector transmission direction of the output polariser 218. Further the electric vector transmission direction 303 of the reflective polariser 302 is parallel to the electric vector transmission direction 319 of the additional polariser 318.

The switchable liquid crystal retarder 301 comprises a layer 314 of liquid crystal material 414 with a negative dielectric anisotropy. The passive retarder 330 comprises a negative C-plate having an optical axis perpendicular to the plane of the retarder 330, illustrated schematically by the orientation of the discotic material 430.

The liquid crystal retarder 301 further comprises transmissive electrodes 413, 415 arranged to control the liquid crystal material, the layer of liquid crystal material being switchable by means of adjusting the voltage being applied to the electrodes. The electrodes 413, 415 may be across the layer 314 and are arranged to apply a voltage for controlling the liquid crystal retarder 301. The transmissive electrodes are on opposite sides of the layer of liquid crystal material 414 and may for example be ITO electrodes.

Alignment layers may be formed between electrodes 413, 415 and the liquid crystal material 414 of the layer 314. The orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the x-y plane is determined by the pretilt direction of the alignment layers so that each alignment layer has a pretilt wherein the pretilt of each alignment layer has a pretilt direction with a component 417 a, 417 b in the plane of the layer 314 that is parallel or anti-parallel or orthogonal to the electric vector transmission direction 303 of the reflective polariser 302.

Driver 350 provides a voltage V to electrodes 413, 415 across the layer 314 of switchable liquid crystal material 414 such that liquid crystal molecules are inclined at a tilt angle to the vertical. The plane of the tilt is determined by the pretilt direction of alignment layers formed on the inner surfaces of substrates 312, 316.

In typical use for switching between a public mode and a privacy mode, the layer of liquid crystal material is switchable between two states, the first state being a public mode so that the display may be used by multiple users, the second state being a privacy mode for use by a primary user with minimal visibility by snoopers. The switching may be by means of a voltage being applied across the electrodes. In general such a display may be considered having a first wide angle state and a second reduced off-axis luminance state.

Features of the embodiment of FIG. 14 not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

Polar profiles of various elements of an illustrative embodiment of the stack of FIG. 13 will now be described.

FIG. 15A is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance of a collimated backlight and spatial light modulator.

FIG. 15B is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of transmission of a switchable retarder arranged between parallel polarisers for the illustrative embodiment of TABLE 2.

TABLE 2 Passive retarder(s) Active LC retarder Δn.d/ Alignment Pretilt/ Δn.d/ Volt- Mode Type nm layers deg nm Δε age/V Wide Negative C −660 Homeotropic 88 750 −4.3 0 Pri- Homeotropic 88 2.2 vacy

FIG. 15C is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of relative reflection of a switchable retarder arranged between a reflective polariser and absorbing polariser for the illustrative embodiment of TABLE 2.

FIG. 15D is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of total display reflectivity for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation, that is the polar profile for the reflectivity ρ(θ,ϕ) where θ is the polar angle and ϕ is the azimuthal angle.

FIG. 15E is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation, that is the polar profile for the privacy level P(θ,ϕ).

FIG. 15F is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of visual security level, S(θ,ϕ) for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation for a display head-on luminance, of value Y_(max) measured in nits that is half of the illuminance of value I measured in lux. Contour lines for S=1.0, S=1.5 and S=1.8 are illustrated to show polar regions of image privacy and image invisibility. Contour lines for S=0.1 are illustrated to show polar regions of high image visibility.

FIG. 15G is a schematic graph illustrating the polar variation of visual security level, S for zero elevation for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation for a display head-on luminance, of value Y_(max) measured in nits that is half of the illuminance of value I measured in lux. At 45 degrees the display is controlled such that the I/Y_(max) ratio (lux/nit) setting of the display is 2.0 and the image is invisible at polar angles of +/−45 degrees.

Operation of the display of FIG. 13 in public mode will now be described.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating in perspective side view an arrangement of the retarders 300 in a public mode of operation. In the present embodiment, zero volts is provided across the liquid crystal retarder 301, as in TABLE 2.

In comparison to the arrangement of FIG. 14, no voltage is applied and the molecules of the liquid crystal material 414 are substantially arranged normal to the alignment layers and electrodes 413, 415.

Features of the embodiment of FIG. 16 not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

FIG. 17A is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a public mode of operation; and FIG. 17B is a schematic graph illustrating the polar variation of visual security level, S for zero elevation for the arrangement of FIG. 13 in a public mode of operation for a display head-on luminance, of value Y_(max) measured in nits that is half of the illuminance of value I measured in lux. In comparison to the arrangement of FIG. 15F, the display remains visible to users over a wide polar region with highest visibility near the axis.

FIG. 17C is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance for a backlight with a direction of maximum luminance) Y_(max) that is not normal to the display. In comparison to FIG. 17A, which has Y_(max) at location 890 that is the display normal, FIG. 17C illustrates that Y_(max) is at location 892 that is above the axis. Advantageously display luminance may be increased for users that are looking down onto the display. The propagation of polarised light from the output polariser 218 will now be considered for on-axis and off-axis directions for a display operating in privacy mode.

FIG. 18A is a schematic diagram illustrating in side view propagation of output light from a spatial light modulator through the optical stack of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation.

When the layer 314 of liquid crystal material 414 is driven to operate in the privacy mode, the retarders 300 provide no overall transformation of polarisation component 360 to output light rays 400 passing therethrough along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the switchable retarder, but provides an overall transformation of polarisation component 361 to light rays 402 passing therethrough for some polar angles which are at an acute angle to the perpendicular to the plane of the retarders.

Polarisation component 360 from the output polariser 218 is transmitted by reflective polariser 302 and incident on retarders 300. On-axis light has a polarisation component 362 that is unmodified from component 360 while off-axis light has a polarisation component 364 that is transformed by the retarders 300. At a minimum, the polarisation component 361 is transformed to a linear polarisation component 364 and absorbed by additional polariser 318. More generally, the polarisation component 361 is transformed to an elliptical polarisation component, that is partially absorbed by additional polariser 318.

The polar distribution of light transmission illustrated in FIG. 15B modifies the polar distribution of luminance output of the underlying spatial light modulator 48. In the case that the spatial light modulator 48 comprises a directional backlight 20 then off-axis luminance may be further be reduced as described above.

Features of the embodiment of FIG. 18A not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

Advantageously, a privacy display is provided that has low luminance to an off-axis snooper while maintaining high luminance for an on-axis observer.

The operation of the reflective polariser 302 for light from ambient light source 604 will now be described for the display operating in privacy mode.

FIG. 18B is a schematic diagram illustrating in top view propagation of ambient illumination light through the optical stack of FIG. 13 in a privacy mode of operation.

Ambient light source 604 illuminates the display device 100 with unpolarised light. Additional polariser 318 transmits light ray 410 normal to the display device 100 with a first polarisation component 372 that is a linear polarisation component parallel to the electric vector transmission direction 319 of the additional polariser 318.

In both states of operation, the polarisation component 372 remains unmodified by the retarders 300 and so transmitted polarisation component 382 is parallel to the transmission axis of the reflective polariser 302 and the output polariser 218, so ambient light is directed through the spatial light modulator 48 and lost.

By comparison, for ray 412, off-axis light is directed through the retarders 300 such that polarisation component 374 incident on the reflective polariser 302 may be reflected. Such polarisation component is re-converted into component 376 after passing through retarders 300 and is transmitted through the additional polariser 318.

Thus when the layer 314 of liquid crystal material is in the second state of said two states, the reflective polariser 302 provides no reflected light for ambient light rays 410 passing through the additional polariser 318 and then the retarders 300 along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the retarders 300, but provides reflected light rays 412 for ambient light passing through the additional polariser 318 and then the retarders 300 at some polar angles which are at an acute angle to the perpendicular to the plane of the retarders 300; wherein the reflected light 412 passes back through the retarders 300 and is then transmitted by the additional polariser 318.

The retarders 300 thus provide no overall transformation of polarisation component 380 to ambient light rays 410 passing through the additional polariser 318 and then the retarder 300 along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the switchable retarder, but provides an overall transformation of polarisation component 372 to ambient light rays 412 passing through the absorptive polariser 318 and then the retarders 300 at some polar angles which are at an acute angle to the perpendicular to the plane of the retarders 300.

The polar distribution of light reflection illustrated in FIG. 15C thus illustrates that high reflectivity can be provided at typical snooper locations by means of the privacy state of the retarders 300. Thus, in the privacy mode of operation, the reflectivity for off-axis viewing positions is increased as illustrated in FIG. 15C, and the luminance for off-axis light from the spatial light modulator is reduced as illustrated in FIG. 15B.

In the public mode of operation, the control system 710, 752, 350 is arranged to switch the switchable liquid crystal retarder 301 into a second retarder state in which a phase shift is introduced to polarisation components of light passing therethrough along an axis inclined to a normal to the plane of the switchable liquid crystal retarder 301.

By way of comparison, solid angular extent 402D may be substantially the same as solid angular extent 402B in a public mode of operation. Such control of output solid angular extents 402C, 402D may be achieved by synchronous control of the sets 15, 17 of light sources and the at least one switchable liquid crystal retarder 300.

Advantageously a privacy mode may be achieved with low image visibility for off-axis viewing and a large solid angular extent may be provided with high efficiency for a public mode of operation, for sharing display imagery between multiple users and increasing image spatial uniformity.

Additional polariser 318 is arranged on the same output side of the spatial light modulator 48 as the display output polariser 218 which may be an absorbing dichroic polariser. The display polariser 218 and the additional polariser 318 have electric vector transmission directions 219, 319 that are parallel. As will be described below, such parallel alignment provides high transmission for central viewing locations.

A transmissive spatial light modulator 48 arranged to receive the output light from the backlight; an input polariser 210 arranged on the input side of the spatial light modulator between the backlight 20 and the spatial light modulator 48; an output polariser 218 arranged on the output side of the spatial light modulator 48; an additional polariser 318 arranged on the output side of the output polariser 218; and a switchable liquid crystal retarder 300 comprising a layer 314 of liquid crystal material arranged between the at least one additional polariser 318 and the output polariser 318 in this case in which the additional polariser 318 is arranged on the output side of the output polariser 218; and a control system 710 arranged to synchronously control the light sources 15, 17 and the at least one switchable liquid crystal retarder 300.

Control system 710 further comprises control of voltage controller 752 that is arranged to provide control of voltage driver 350, in order to achieve control of switchable liquid crystal retarder 301.

Features of the embodiment of FIG. 18B not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

Advantageously, a privacy display is provided that has high reflectivity to an off-axis snooper while maintaining low reflectivity for an on-axis observer. As described above, such increased reflectivity provides enhanced privacy performance for the display in an ambiently illuminated environment.

Operation in the public mode will now be described.

FIG. 19A is a schematic diagram illustrating in side view propagation of output light from a spatial light modulator through the optical stack of FIG. 1 in a public mode of operation; and FIG. 19B is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of output luminance with polar direction for the transmitted light rays in FIG. 19A.

Features of the embodiment of FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

When the liquid crystal retarder 301 is in a first state of said two states, the retarders 300 provide no overall transformation of polarisation component 360, 361 to output light passing therethrough perpendicular to the plane of the switchable retarder 301 or at an acute angle to the perpendicular to the plane of the switchable retarder 301. That is polarisation component 362 is substantially the same as polarisation component 360 and polarisation component 364 is substantially the same as polarisation component 361. Thus the angular transmission profile of FIG. 19B is substantially uniformly transmitting across a wide polar region. Advantageously a display may be switched to a wide field of view.

FIG. 19C is a schematic diagram illustrating in top view propagation of ambient illumination light through the optical stack of FIG. 1 in a public mode of operation; and FIG. 19D is a schematic graph illustrating the variation of reflectivity with polar direction for the reflected light rays in FIG. 19C.

Thus when the liquid crystal retarder 301 is in the first state of said two states, the retarders 300 provide no overall transformation of polarisation component 372 to ambient light rays 412 passing through the additional polariser 318 and then the retarders 300, that is perpendicular to the plane of the retarders 300 or at an acute angle to the perpendicular to the plane of the retarders 300.

In operation in the public mode, input light ray 412 has polarisation state 372 after transmission through the additional polariser 318. For both head-on and off-axis directions no polarisation transformation occurs and thus the reflectivity for light rays 402 from the reflective polariser 302 is low. Light ray 412 is transmitted by reflective polariser 302 and lost in the display polarisers 218, 210 or the backlight of FIG. 1 or optical isolator 218, 518 in an emissive spatial light modulator 38 of FIG. 2.

Features of the embodiment of FIG. 19C and FIG. 19D not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

Advantageously in a public mode of operation, high luminance and low reflectivity is provided across a wide field of view. Such a display can be conveniently viewed with high contrast by multiple observers.

A display apparatus comprising an emissive display will now be described.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating a front perspective view a switchable directional display device comprising a directional backlight and two switchable liquid crystal retarders each arranged between a pair of polarisers. In comparison to the arrangement of FIG. 13, the emissive display such as an OLED display or a micro-LED display comprises a further quarter waveplate 202 between the pixel layer 214 and output polariser 218. Advantageously undesirable reflectivity from the backplane 214 is reduced.

Features of the embodiment of FIG. 20 not discussed in further detail may be assumed to correspond to the features with equivalent reference numerals as discussed above, including any potential variations in the features.

FIG. 21A is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance of an emissive spatial light modulator.

FIG. 21B is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of transmission of a first switchable retarder arranged between a first pair of parallel polarisers for the illustrative embodiment of TABLE 3.

TABLE 3 In-plane LC Additional Additional Alignment Pretilt/ alignment layer 314 passive retarder passive retarder Layer type deg direction retardance 330 type 330 retardance 301B Homogeneous 2 270 1250 nm Homeotropic 88 90 330B Negative C-plate −1000 nm 301A Homogeneous 2 180 1250 nm Homeotropic 88 0 330A Negative C-plate −1000 nm

FIG. 21C is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of relative reflection of the first switchable retarder 300A arranged between a reflective polariser 302 and absorbing polariser 318A for the illustrative embodiment of TABLE 3.

FIG. 21D is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of total display reflectivity ρ(θ,ϕ) for the arrangement of FIG. 20 in a privacy mode of operation.

FIG. 21E is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of transmission of a second switchable retarder 300B arranged between a second pair of parallel polarisers for the illustrative embodiment of TABLE 3.

FIG. 21F is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of output luminance P(θ,ϕ) for the arrangement of FIG. 20 in a privacy mode of operation.

FIG. 21G is a schematic graph illustrating the polar and azimuthal variation of visual security level, S for the arrangement of FIG. 20 in a privacy mode of operation for a display head-on luminance, of value Y_(max) measured in nits that is half of the illuminance of value I measured in lux.

FIG. 21H is a schematic graph illustrating the polar variation of visual security level, S for zero elevation for the arrangement of FIG. 20 in a privacy mode of operation for a display head-on luminance, of value Y_(max) measured in nits that is half of the illuminance of value I measured in lux. Desirably the security level, S is greater than 1.8 at +/−45°.

Other types of switchable privacy display will now be described.

A display device 100 that may be switched between privacy and public modes of operation comprises an imaging waveguide and an array of light sources as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,519,153, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The imaging waveguide images an array of light sources to optical windows that may be controlled to provide high luminance on-axis and low luminance off-axis in a privacy mode, and high luminance with a large solid angle cone for public operation.

Switchable angular contrast profile liquid crystal displays are described in Japanese Patent Publ. No. JPH1130783 and in U.S. Patent Publ. No. 2017-0123241, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. Such displays may provide out-of-plane tilt of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 214 of a liquid crystal display and may achieve reduced off-axis image contrast in privacy mode of operation. The display device 100 control system 500 may further comprise control of out-of-plane tilt of the liquid crystal molecules.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately” provide an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding term and/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from zero percent to ten percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, angles, et cetera. Such relativity between items ranges between approximately zero percent to ten percent.

While various embodiments in accordance with the principles disclosed herein have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of this disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with any claims and their equivalents issuing from this disclosure. Furthermore, the above advantages and features are provided in described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of such issued claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the above advantages.

Additionally, the section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 CFR 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the embodiment(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically and by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Technical Field,” the claims should not be limited by the language chosen under this heading to describe the so-called field. Further, a description of a technology in the “Background” is not to be construed as an admission that certain technology is prior art to any embodiment(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Summary” to be considered as a characterization of the embodiment(s) set forth in issued claims. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple embodiments may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the embodiment(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of such claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A privacy display apparatus comprising: a display device arranged to display an image, the display device being capable of providing a privacy function in which the visibility of the image to an off-axis viewer is reduced compared to the visibility of the image to an on-axis viewer; at least one privacy light source arranged to provide illumination from an illuminated region that is arranged to illuminate the display device along an incident direction for reflection to a predetermined viewer position at a polar angle of greater than 0° to the normal to the display device; and a control system arranged to control the display device, wherein the control system is arranged to control the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source when the privacy function is provided.
 2. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an ambient light sensor arranged to detect the illuminance level of ambient light.
 3. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control system is arranged to derive a measure of the illuminance of light on the display device along the incident direction using the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the ambient light sensor and to selectively control the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source on the basis of the derived measure.
 4. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the ambient light sensor is a directional sensor arranged to detect the illuminance level of ambient light incident on the display device along the incident direction, whereby the measure of the illuminance Iθ of light on the display device along the incident direction is the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the ambient light sensor.
 5. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the ambient light sensor is arranged to detect the illuminance level of ambient light from a range of directions, and the control system is arranged to derive a measure of the illuminance of light on the display device along the incident direction using both the illuminance level of ambient light detected by the ambient light sensor and the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source.
 6. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control system is arranged to control the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source to maintain a relationship Iθ≥Iθ_(min) where Iθ is the derived measure of the illuminance of light on the display along the incident direction and Iθ_(min) is given by the equation ${I\;\theta_{\min}} = \frac{\left( {10^{S_{\min}} - 1} \right) \cdot \pi \cdot {Ymax}}{\left( {{\rho(\theta)}/{P(\theta)}} \right)}$ where Y_(max) is the maximum output luminance of the display device, the units of Y_(max) being the units of Iθ_(min) divided by solid angle in units of steradian, ρ(θ) is the reflectivity of the display device for light along the incident direction, P(θ) is the ratio of the luminance of the display device along the incident direction to the maximum output luminance of the display device, and S_(min) has a value of 1.0 or more.
 7. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein S_(min) has a value of 1.5 or more.
 8. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein S_(min) has a value of 1.8 or more.
 9. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control system is further arranged to control luminance of the displayed image on the basis of the detected illuminance level of the ambient light.
 10. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illuminated region is a surface and the at least one privacy light source is arranged to illuminate the illuminated region so as to provide said illumination by reflection from the surface.
 11. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one privacy light source is arranged in the illuminated region so as to provide said illumination as light output thereby.
 12. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the privacy light source is not visible by the on-axis viewer.
 13. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illuminated region is part of the door of an automotive vehicle.
 14. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device is capable of operating in at least a public mode and a privacy mode, wherein in the privacy mode the privacy function is provided and the visibility of the image to an off-axis viewer is reduced compared to the public mode, the control system being capable of selectively operating the display device in the public mode or the privacy mode.
 15. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the control system is arranged to selectively operate the display device in the public mode or the privacy mode in response to the detected illuminance level of the ambient light.
 16. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the transfer function provides higher luminance of the displayed image in the public mode than in the privacy mode.
 17. A privacy display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maximum output luminance of the display device is along the normal to the display device.
 18. A method of controlling a display device that is arranged to display an image and is capable of providing a privacy function in which the visibility of the image to an off-axis viewer is reduced compared to the visibility of the image to an on-axis viewer, the method comprising: providing at least one privacy light source arranged to provide illumination from an illuminated region that is arranged to illuminate the display device along an incident direction for reflection to a predetermined viewer position at a polar angle of greater than 0° to the normal to the display device; and controlling the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source when the privacy function is provided.
 19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising detecting the illuminance level of ambient light.
 20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the method further comprises deriving a measure of the illuminance of light on the display along the incident direction using the detected illuminance level of ambient light, and the step of controlling the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source is performed on the basis of the derived measure.
 21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the detected illuminance level is the illuminance level of ambient light incident on the display device along the incident direction, whereby the measure of the illuminance Iθ of light on the display along the incident direction is the illuminance level of ambient light detected by an ambient light sensor.
 22. A method according to claim 20, wherein the detected illuminance level is the illuminance level of ambient light from a range of directions, and the measure of the illuminance of light on the display along the incident direction is derived using both the illuminance level of ambient light detected by an ambient light sensor and the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source.
 23. A method according to claim 20, further comprising controlling the luminous flux of the at least one privacy light source to maintain a relationship Iθ≥Iθ_(min) where Iθ is the derived measure of the illuminance of light on the display along the incident direction and Iθ_(min) is given by the equation ${I\;\theta_{\min}} = \frac{\left( {10^{S_{\min}} - 1} \right) \cdot \pi \cdot {Ymax}}{\left( {{\rho(\theta)}/{P(\theta)}} \right)}$ where Y_(max) is the maximum output luminance of the display device, the units of Y_(max) being the units of Iθ_(min) divided by solid angle in units of steradian, ρ(θ) is the reflectivity of the display device for light along the incident direction, P(θ) is the ratio of the luminance of the display device along the incident direction to the maximum output luminance of the display device, and S_(min) has a value of 1.0 or more.
 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein S_(min) has a value of 1.5 or more.
 25. A method according to claim 24, wherein S_(min) has a value of 1.8 or more.
 26. A method according to claim 19, further comprising controlling luminance of the displayed image on the basis of the detected illuminance level of the ambient light.
 27. A method according to claim 18, wherein the illuminated region is a surface and the at least one privacy light source is arranged to illuminate the illuminated region so as to provide said illumination by reflection from the surface.
 28. A method according to claim 18, wherein the at least one privacy light source is arranged in the illuminated region so as to provide said illumination as light output thereby.
 29. A method according to claim 18, wherein the privacy light source is not visible by the on-axis viewer.
 30. A method according to claim 18, wherein the illuminated region is part of the door of an automotive vehicle.
 31. A method according to claim 18, wherein the display device is capable of operating in at least a public mode and a privacy mode, wherein in the privacy mode the privacy function is provided and the visibility of the image to an off-axis viewer is reduced compared to the public mode.
 32. A method according to claim 18, wherein the maximum output luminance of the display device is along the normal to the display device. 